AT391148B - ARRANGEMENT FOR PUTTING PARTS TO BE GALVANIZED INTO OR FROM A HANGING RACK - Google Patents

Description

No. 391148

The invention relates to an arrangement for bringing plate-shaped parts to be galvanized into or on a hanging rack, by means of which these parts are suspended in a galvanic bath, the arrangement having pneumatically acting suction cups acting on the parts. In this case, in particular and as a preferred field of application, the bringing of printed circuit boards to be electroplated, which contain electronic circuits, or the associated switching elements later, into or out of the respective hanging rack.

EP-A1-0 109 641 already discloses a suspension device for supporting frames of electroplating systems, in particular supporting frames on a contact rail of an electroplating system. Pneumatically holding suction cups for plate-shaped parts are not provided here.

EP-A1-0 091 783 relates to a carrier for goods during the electrolytic treatment. Pneumatically holding suction cups for plate-shaped parts for moving the parts are also not provided in this device.

Electroplating frames with a frame rod and frame head are finally known from EP-A1-0 039 928, but they serve for the good fastening of the frame to the mounting rail and are therefore not suitable for bringing plate-shaped parts into or out of a frame.

Furthermore, frames with a clamping device for workpieces to be metallized in a metallization bath have been proposed, which mechanically and electrically connect the workpiece clamped between a clamping screw and the clamping counterpart to a rod immersed in the bath (CH-PS 646.464). Pneumatically holding suction cups for plate-shaped parts for moving these parts are also not provided in this device.

Arrangements for the introduction of workpieces into bath containers of galvanic surface treatment systems are also already described in DD-PS 223.737, the task being to design the system inexpensively and to take up little space, which task is solved by certain distances between the center axes of the stations and the stopping points. Bringing devices for the parts with pneumatically holding suction cups for plate-shaped parts are not to be found in this document.

From DD-PS 204.715 a device for fastening and contacting printed circuit boards has finally become known, in which the plates are held by clamping screws which are used not only to hold but also to establish the electrical contact. The plates cannot be inserted and fastened automatically and are done by hand. Pneumatic suction cups, attachment and movement of plate-shaped parts are not provided.

In contrast to this prior art, the device according to the invention relates to an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1, which has pneumatically acting suction cups. Holding and moving plate-shaped parts by means of suction cups has the advantage over the use of clamping screws that the plate is automatically picked up by means of compressed air and then can be moved. Arrangements are known in which plate-shaped parts to be galvanized are moved by means of suction cups which hold them pneumatically and are brought into the respective position or into the respective hanging frame. The forces that can be applied by means of such suction cups are limited. This also limits the area of application of this previously known arrangement. This means that larger plate-shaped parts cannot be moved with it. In particular, difficulties arise, however, when the plate-shaped parts are to some extent " glued " to the hanging frame due to the metal mass which is deposited on them during the electroplating process. are and must be released from it by appropriate traction.

In contrast, the object of the invention is to improve an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that both the necessary force for bringing the plate-shaped parts into the hanging frame and out of the hanging frame is present, and also the plate-shaped parts the correct one during these movements Take or keep Lagö.

The solution to this problem is seen, starting from the preamble of claim 1, first in the combination according to the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. The features a give the force required to raise and lower the plate-shaped parts; if necessary, tearing them off the hanging frame after galvanizing and " sticking " or " Baking " of the respective plate-shaped part on the hanging frame. The features b have the priority or even the sole task of keeping the respective plate-shaped part in the correct position or in balance, i.e. H. that it does not tip sideways out of its vertical position when lifting or lowering. This would both the attachment of the plate-shaped part on the hanging frame, as well as the deposition of the plate-shaped part, for. B. in a support frame according to claim 11, hinder u. May even make it impossible. The feature group c ensures that the grippers and the pneumatic suction cups each have the same position with respect to one another and thus also with respect to the plate-shaped part to be transported. It can be seen that by dividing the functions of " lifting and lowering " on the one hand and " hold or balance " on the other hand on the feature groups a and b, and the connection of these feature groups a and b through the feature group c all three feature groups to solve the task. Since the suction cups according to feature group b only grasp the plate-shaped parts on their side faces, it is advantageously possible to push the plate-shaped parts without gaps from below onto plate-shaped parts already in the hanging frame. This avoids disadvantageous gaps there (see also the later explanations). Likewise, a complete initiation of the -2-

No. 391148 lateral vertical edges of the plate-shaped parts to any other adjacent plate-shaped parts possible. The same applies to the lower edge of the plate-shaped part, provided that after it has been introduced into the hanging frame, another plate-shaped part is pushed against it from below.

Preferred arrangements of the feature groups a and b result from claims 2 and 3. With this 5, the plate-shaped part can be lifted from below with appropriate pressure and secured in the upper area against any lateral tipping by the feature group b.

The gripper design according to claim 4 enables sufficient power transmission without it being necessary to provide separate recesses, openings or the like for the penetration of a gripper part on the plate-shaped part to be moved. The features of claim 5 ensure, on the one hand, 10 that the grippers (usually several grippers are provided) each have the same distance from the edge of the plate-shaped part with their gripping surface or tip. On the other hand, when lifting the plate-shaped part, the supports against its lower edge (according to feature group c of claim 1, the support is attached to the lifting frame), so that the supports with for lifting the relatively heavy plate-shaped parts in this preferred embodiment of the invention To be available. 15 The arrangement according to the invention is advantageous and also supplemented in a preferred embodiment of the invention by a support frame according to claim 11, which on the one hand allows the accommodation of the plate-shaped parts as long as they have not yet been hung in the hanging scaffolding. On the other hand, the supporting frames are designed in such a way that they allow the lifting scaffold to be inserted with grippers and suction cups and the plate-shaped parts to be lifted out or lowered, and then the lifting scaffold to be removed again.

The invention is particularly advantageous in cooperation with the scaffold-like hanging scaffolding gripping the edges of the plate-shaped parts according to claims 14 to 16. The insertion of the edges of such plate-shaped parts between the resilient clamping members of the suspended scaffolding requires a not inconsiderable force, which, however, can be applied with a suspended scaffold according to the invention. The same applies to 25 pulling out the edges of the plate-shaped parts from these resilient clamping brackets.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be found in the further subclaims, as well as in the following description and the associated drawing of exemplary embodiments according to the invention. In the drawing shows

1: a lifting scaffold according to the invention in the front view with plate-shaped part, 30 Fig. 2: a side view of Fig. 1,

3: a support frame according to the invention in the front view,

4: the side view belonging to FIG. 3,

5: in the front view an application example of the invention,

6: a detail of FIG. 5 on an enlarged scale, 35 FIG. 7: a view of FIG. 6 according to arrow (VII),

8: another embodiment of the invention, also in the front view,

8a: the side view of Fig. 8,

9: on the other hand, on an enlarged scale, a section along the line (IX-IX) in FIG. 8. First, the lifting frame with the associated components is explained with reference to FIG. The generally 40 with (1) numbered lifting frame has in its lower area several grippers (2), each consisting of two pliers-like halves (3), with gripping surfaces or, according to the illustrated and preferred embodiment, gripping tips (4) in the lower area of the attack transporting plate-shaped part (5) under pressure of a spring (6). The pliers half (3) shown on the left in FIG. 2 is pivoted about the contact point (7) of a peg-like abutment (8). The gripper also includes a support (9), which is located at a relatively short distance from the gripper tips (4) and serves to support the lower edge (5 ') of the plate-shaped part. The gripper half shown on the right in Fig. 2 is, as indicated at (10), firmly attached to the lifting frame and transmits its lifting force both to the support (9) and the gripper tips (4) to the plate-shaped part (5). There is a plunger (11) on the lifting frame, which can be moved by a part (12) (magnet, pneumatic or the like) in the direction of the arrow (13) and, when it hits 50 on the lower lever arm (3 '), on the left in Fig. 2 shown movable gripper half cancels the holding or clamping force of the gripper tips (4) on the plate-shaped part (5). If at the same time the pneumatic effect of the pneumatic brackets to be explained is canceled - this can be done by synchronously controlled means, e.g. B. a synchronously controlled pneumatics happen - then the plate-shaped part (5) is released from the lifting frame. 55 In the upper area of the lifting frame, suction cups (15) are provided which are to be pressurized and act on the side surface (5 ") of the plate-shaped part (5) and balance them, in particular to prevent them from accidentally tipping away in the direction of the double arrow (14) . The suction cups (15) are connected to the grippers (2) via the lifting frame (1). H. the position of these parts relative to one another is fixed. Fig. 1 shows that several grippers (2) can be provided side by side and at a distance from each other on a horizontal line 60 (16). Also in the upper area of the lifting frame, as shown in FIG. 1, several

Suction cups (15) at a distance from each other and preferably also be provided on a horizontal line. The 3-

No. 391 148

Suction cups are also at such a distance from the edge of the respective plate-shaped part that the suction cups do not hinder the effect of the invention described below;

It can be seen that with the invention the plate-shaped parts, both with their lower and upper edges (5 ', 5 "') and with their side edges (5 " "), are seamlessly connected to plate-shaped parts located above or below or adjacent to them are also to be galvanized. This gapless bumping is important because, in the event of a distance between the edge of a plate-shaped part and the edge of an adjacent plate-shaped part in the galvanic bath, deposits form in and around this gap, in the form of a so-called " dog bone ". Such deposits are disadvantageous because the resulting layer thickness of the galvanic deposit can lie outside the permissible tolerances.

The suction cups themselves can have a relatively small diameter, since they only have to apply balancing forces, but not lifting or retracting forces.

The generally designated (17) support frame according to FIGS. 3, 4 has a series of slots (18) which only extend over a limited length (1) and below which a free space of a height (h) is left. The plate-shaped parts are again numbered (5). The slots (18) are dimensioned such that the plate-shaped parts can be inserted therein. This creates a number of compartments (19) within a support frame (20 compartments in the present exemplary embodiment) in which the plate-shaped parts (5) can be accommodated one behind the other and in a small space. The distance (h) of the lower edge (5 ') of the plate-shaped part (5) from the spar (21) of the support frame allows the gripper (5) to be introduced approximately in the direction of the arrow (22) (FIG. 4). Since the length (1) of the slots (18) is limited, there is sufficient free space above them for attaching the suction cups, for example according to Peil (23). As soon as the gripper and suction cups are in the lifting position, the respective plate-shaped part (5) can be lifted upwards in the lifting direction (24) and inserted into the respective hanging frame (see the explanations below). The lowering direction is numbered (24 ').

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, the hanging frame consists of two frame struts (25) which hold the circuit boards (5). On the frame struts (25), pairs of associated clamping springs (26) are provided, which in this example are slightly angled and thus hold the circuit board inserted between them with resilient clamping force at point (27). This is only shown schematically in FIG. 5. It can be seen that the shape of the Fedem (26) is such that the circuit boards either in the direction of the arrow (28) or in the direction of the arrow (29), d. H. parallel to the frame struts (25) between the pairs of springs or can be pulled out again. The electroplating current is supplied to the printed circuit boards via the frame struts (25) and the springs (26). Fig. 5 shows that the Fedem (26) from the frame struts (25) extend freely, so that the frame struts themselves do not hinder the insertion of the circuit boards (5). The respective springs preferably protrude into the space between the two frame struts (25), so that a uniform galvanization takes place. (25 ') is a crossbar connecting the two frame struts to the hanging frame, also called frame carrier

Fig. 5 also shows that a plurality of circuit boards can be arranged one above the other in a frame and that several circuit boards (5) can also be provided in the horizontal direction, since the frame struts can have a series of pairs of clamping springs arranged one above the other on each side.

It can be seen that with the arrangement described above, which works with grippers and suction cups, a circuit board in the manner described can be brought with its edges between the clamping springs (26) into the clamping and thus electroplating position and can be pulled out of the springs again after the galvanizing has taken place .

Furthermore, it is possible that the printed circuit boards (5) have on their side longitudinal edges (5 ') one or more openings which, in the clamped holding position of the plates, grip over support elements of the respective frame struts and thus, in addition to the clamp holder by the springs, hold or secure the Display the printed circuit board (5) in its electroplating position.

An embodiment of such an additional hold is shown in FIGS. 8, 8a, 9 and described below.

On the frame struts (30) are left and right, d. H. Also directed towards the opposite frame strut, pairs of springs are provided which consist of springs (31) which are fixedly attached to the frame struts and cooperate with them but can pivot about the longitudinal axes (32) of shafts (33) with the shafts (34). Fig. 9 shows the pairs of springs (31,34) in the clamping position. The circuit boards (5) assume the position indicated by dash-dotted lines. By pivoting the shaft on the left in FIG. 9 counterclockwise and the shaft on the right in FIG. 9 clockwise, the springs (34) are brought out of the clamped position and the plates (51) can be removed or new plates can be inserted into the electroplating position. The clamping position is restored by turning the left shaft (33) clockwise and the right shaft (33) clockwise. This exemplary embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for the automated introduction of the printed circuit boards into the clamping position and removal of the printed circuit boards by means of an arrangement according to the invention consisting of grippers and suction cups, since this transport of the printed circuit boards by machine with a correspondingly synchronous rotation of the shafts (33) ( as described above) can be coupled. For this purpose (see Fig. 8) a rotary magnet (35) which is on a -4-

Claims (16)

No. 391 148 of the ends (36) of the shafts (33) is opened, rotate them about their axis (32) in the manner described above. The other shaft (33) is then also moved in the opposite direction by two driving gearwheels. In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 8 - 9, holding or supporting pins (37) are also fastened to the frame, by means of which the plates (5) are in the operating position for galvanization ( Clamping position) can be plugged with holes, not shown. This plug connection secures the printed circuit boards (5) against falling during the assembly phases, in which the springs (31, 34) do not rest against the printed circuit boards with clamping force. The diameter of the aforementioned holes can be larger than the diameter of the holding means (e.g. holding pins). With this, the grippers can first pull the respective circuit board down a little after galvanizing and thus tear it away from the fixed springs (provided the circuit boards should be glued or "baked" by the galvanizing process). The respective circuit board can then be easily removed from the frame across the board level. In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 8-9, the circuit boards are not pushed upwards by the grippers, but instead there is a movement in a direction transverse to the board plane. This is an advantage if there is no space for inserting the circuit boards from above or from below. Such movement is with an arrangement according to the invention, for. B. according to the example of Fig. 1,2 to convey easily. The springs shown are either made of round wire or flat wire (ribbon). All of the features shown and described, and their combination with one another, are essential to the invention. PATENT CLAIMS 1. Arrangement for bringing plate-shaped parts to be galvanized into or out of a hanging rack, by means of which these parts are hung in a galvanic bath, the arrangement having pneumatically acting suction cups acting on the parts, characterized by the combination of a) on the respective plate-shaped part (5) with grippers (2) acting in the lifting direction (24) or lowering direction (25), b) pneumatically acting suction cups or the like (15) on one or both side surfaces (5 ”) Engage the plate-shaped part and secure it against lateral tipping (14), c) by means of a common lifting frame (1) to which the grippers (2) and suction cups (5) are attached. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the grippers (2) are provided in the lower region of the lifting frame (1). 3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suction cups (15) are provided in the upper region of the lifting frame. 4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each gripper (2) consists of two pliers-like halves (3) under Federwiikung (6), which preferably taper to a point. 5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the grippers (2) each have a support (9) for the lower edge (5 ') of the plate-shaped part (5), the supports (9) in one relatively small distance from the gripping surfaces or tips (4) of the gripper (2). 6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pliers halves (3) are designed as a double-armed lever, their engagement surfaces or tips are in one end region and the compression spring (6) in the other end region of the lever. 7. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the lifting frame (1) a pressure plunger (11) with associated actuation (12) is provided for pivoting a movable pliers half from its holding position into its release position. 8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the other, fixed pliers half on the lifting frame (1) is fixedly attached (10), including the associated support (9). 9. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a plurality of grippers (2) are arranged at a distance from one another on a horizontal line (16). -5- No. 391 148 10. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a plurality of suction cups or the like (15) are arranged at a distance from one another and also at a distance from the respective edges of the plate-shaped part. 11. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by a support frame (17) with guides (18) for receiving a number of plate-shaped parts (5), wherein in the support frame below the guides (18) a space of a height ( h) is provided for the introduction of the grippers (2) into or out of the lifting position and, further to the side of the guides, space is provided for attaching and detaching the suction cups (15). 12. The arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that a plurality of guides (18) and compartments (19) formed therefrom are provided for accommodating a plate-shaped part (5). 13. Arrangement according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the guides are designed as slots (18). 14. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by its combination with a hanging frame which has two mutually parallel and spaced frame struts (25; 30), each with resilient clamping brackets (26; 31; 34), these Clamping brackets protrude freely from each frame strut, preferably into the space between these two frame struts, and means are provided or the clamping brackets are designed so that the respective longitudinal side edges of the printed circuit boards can be inserted into and removed from the resilient clamping bracket of the respective frame is made possible with the aid of the arrangement. 15. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the associated printed circuit boards (5) are provided on their lateral longitudinal edges with at least one opening, preferably with elongated holes, which in the clamped position of the respective printed circuit boards engages over a supporting element of the respective frame strut or engage and that means are provided to make this movement of the circuit board transverse to its plane with the lifting frame according to this arrangement. 16. The arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by coordinated controls of the movement of the lifting scaffold and its components on the one hand and that of loading and unloading of the rack structure on the other. Including 6 sheets of drawings -6-